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It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!

Hi Diane, you're very welcome. I thought it would be appreciated, and a nice remembrance to the folks on PW that never met him in person, and to his friends here. Even though I never met Jerry personally, watching that video, I was moved as well. I had not visited his website for a long time, and was surprised and happy to see that he enjoyed one of my YouTube vids, a "White Christmas" piece.

Diane, I wanted to post that video directly to my post as you did, but did not know how. How can I do that in the future?

Jerry! My friend, you will be missed! I'm so glad we got to hang out in Grand Rapids a few years ago and have some cold ones! You were/are an icon of the pianoworld community. Here's to you and blessings to your kids and your family. I can hear the laughter in heaven already!

In lieu of flowers please make memorial contributions to We Do Care, a fund helping families with hospitalized children with cancer. Donations can be sent to We Do Care, 759 Hachmuth NW, Comstock Park, MI 49321

I met Jerry a couple of years ago at the Kansas City conventionWhat a nice person and he thanked me for posting funny things in the Paging Jerry Groot thread. Jerry had a great sense of humor and new a lot about pianos. I will miss him a lot.

One of Jerry's clients moved to my town in 2011 and brought their Yamaha G2 that Jerry had been servicing for many years. He PM'd me about the piano and said that it should be checked after the move and abrupt change in climate. I met with the owner and going through the piano I was amazed at the stability of the tuning. Also, very precise and clean action repairs and impeccable regulation. To know someone only by what their hand had done was truly inspiring. My new client had only wonderful words for Jerry and I felt like I had made a new acquaintance. I wish I had meet him because I can't get the picture of his avatar out of my head. For he is a Jolly good Fellow.

It felt like I was punched in the gut when I logged in today (the first time in months) and read about Jerry's passing.

I had considered him a friend. We first started chatting when I had helped him out with a recommendation for his upcoming hernia surgery (which I had previously experienced) and since then we regularly corresponded about all sorts of subjects.

He was by far my favorite character on this forum and his always made me laugh. I was hoping to eventually meet him in Michigan (not far away_) and hopefully do some fishing with him.This place definitely won't be the same without him and to be honest I simply won't like it around here as much if Jerry isn't around.

Thanks for all your help Jerry and thanks for making me feel welcome here.

When I first became interested in the piano tech business I had some great help from a local RPT examiner. At some point I mentioned I got so much out of the Pianoworld forum and he mentioned that many of the best technicians in the world post there. I don't remember the details of the conversation but for sure the name "Jerry Groot" came up.

A while ago I became so fed up with some ad-hominem attacks against my person that I posted I'd leave the forum. Immediately I got a PM from Jerry asking me to reconsider as he liked my posts, I shouldn't be so sensitive, people treated him like that too, don't take it personally, etc. I took his advise and reconsidered.

I have not visited PW forum for a while, and today, when I opened it, I have seen this terrible news. Mr. Groot was one of most active members of this forum, always having very useful and objective things to say. I remember that once he had criticized the ethical aspect of one act of mine, regarding a customer, which I presented here and asked members for their opinion. He was completely right about that. I am sure that he was highly moral and honest person. He was full of professional knowledge too, which was obviously visible from his posts. It is very sad that he passed so early. My condolences to his family and friends.

I am a somewhat occasional reader of the forums, but Jerry has always stuck me both as a wonderful person and a wonderful tech. He was particularly helpful to me with a problem that I had. I am very shocked at this news. My sincere condolences to Jerry's family and friends.

I was very sorry to learn of Jerry Groot's death today from the newsletter. (I recently retired from piano work and had not been keeping up with the boards.) He was a solid guy who cared about his work and kept things lively for all of us. I saw him in a class a few years ago at the PTG National in Grand Rapids but was too shy to say hello; now I regret that. My condolences to his family and friends.

I'm extremely shocked and saddened by this terrible news. Jerry was a friend, though I hadn't met him in person. A fun-loving, kind man who always brought a smile to my face. We enjoyed a few funny PM's over the years. You'll be missed Jerry, but I know you are happier and free of pain now. My condolences to the Groot family.

Having been away for a while too and suffering a loss in my own family, I was truly shocked and saddened to hear this! I had no idea he had been ill. He was a great friend and colleague. He was instrumental in having me address a Chapter meeting a few years ago where I was privileged to tune the Horowitz Steinway. I was a guest in his home several times and a guest of his a dinners. I met his lovely wife, Coe and his two sons, Jer, Jr. and Joe.

I know what you mean, Marty. I can't tell you the number of times over the last several weeks when I've thought of, or applied, something that Jer had brought to my attention through this forum or a PM, but it has been many! His legacy is a rich one.

Here's a recording I made as a joke for Jer and posted in a Lester thread about two years ago. It was introduced as what I thought life was probably like in Jer's piano shop. The title is the only thing of the song that I changed. The lyrics are straight from the book, but much more poingnant, now...

I am very late in posting this, but I feel compelled to do so now that I've become aware of the terribly sad news. I didn't realize how long it's been since I visited this forum until I opened the Journal last week and read about Jerry's passing in April. He had a tremendous impact on my life as a technician and otherwise.